Consumers will spend an average of £700 on Christmas this year.

Spending per person on food, festivities, clothes and gifts will rise 7 per cent to £706 from £662 in 2006, according to an annual study by accountants Deloitte.

Spending on partying and socialising is predicted to leap by 18 per cent and designer label handbags and clothes will be among the most popular gifts.

The study also says that around 14 per cent of UK shoppers plan to do most of their gift buying on the internet - double last year's proportion.

Seventy-four per cent of consumers will use online or mail order in some way for their Christmas shopping and two-thirds will research or purchase goods online.

More Britons are also opting for long-haul shopping breaks in the lead-up to Christmas.

New York has seen a 50 per cent increase in the number of Brits buying flight and bookings to Hong Kong have risen by 54 per cent, according to Lastminute.com.

Other popular yuletide destinations are Boston, Milan, Singapore, Bangkok and Marrakech.

New York bargains include a classic iPod for £70 (UK price £99) and Hong Kong's bespoke suits can start from around £250 - compared to a Saville Row version at £1,000.

However, shoppers wishing to buy a Nintendo Wii for Christmas could be left disappointed, with the console having sold out six weeks before the big day.

The shortage means the Wii, usually £179, is changing hands on the net for up to £400.

Retailers Game and Woolworth say new supplies are snapped up within seconds of going on store websites.

Nintendo says it is everything possible' to boost supplies during the festive period.